From bobbing your head at the Magnetic Fields Festival to blissfully enjoying at the classical Tansen Samaroh – this December you’re spoilt for choice!

Gujarat, India

Experience the Rann Utsav (1 November 2018 – 20 February 2019), a carnival of music, dance, food, art, and culture against the picturesque view of the White Rann. Tailor-make your trip by deciding the activities suited for you. More details here.

Photo: Subhendu Sarkar / LightRocket via Getty Image

Nagaland

Witness the culturally-unique, Hornbill Festival (1 – 10 December) where the different tribes that inhabit the land showcase their diversity, all under one roof. Interact with the tribes, participate in various contests and traditional games and experience the customs and traditions of the place. More details here.

Rajasthan

Attend the Magnetic Fields Festival (14 – 16 December), a festival of contemporary music, and enhance your visit by staying at the extravagant Alsisar Mahal that is hosting it. Get ready to bust out your dance moves to various international as well as local artists such as DJ Seinfeld, Bicep, Begum X, Delhi Sultanate and more. See the full line up here.

Photo: Tinkubasu [under CC BY-SA 4.0] via Wikimedia Commons

Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh

For all those who appreciate classical music, Tansen Samaroh (24 – 29 December) is the festival for you. Celebrated annually, this four-day musical journey gathers artists and music lovers from across the globe to honor the legendary maestro, Tansen. Organized near the tomb of Tansen, this festival invites you to get lost in the vocal and instrumental performances by various Indian artists. More details here.

Auli, Uttarakhand

If your idea of spending winter includes snow and skiing, head to this Garhwali ski resort, 250km from Rishikesh. With a 3km slope that has a 500m drop, it is counted among the world’s best skiing destinations. Soak in spellbinding views of pine and oak trees, and the surrounding mountains. Visit the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam website for courses and other information.

Photo: Astrid Schweigert / GettyImages

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The weather’s perfect for scuba diving, with the glorious sunshine, the calm sea and clear visibility. You’ll be rewarded with glimpses of shimmering corals in myriad colours, a variety of marine life and rich flora too. Book a trip on Infiniti Liveaboard, which offers special diving holidays.

Photo: Kunal Kakodkar

Pune, Maharashtra

The Bacardi NH7 Weekender (7 – 9 December) is back with all the fun and energy. Head to Pune to groove to some amazing live performances from artists such as God Is An Astronaut, Ritviz and Joe Satriani among others. That’s not all – have a belly laugh with stand-up comics Kaneez Surka, Biswa Kalyan Rath and many more. Details here.

Kochi, Kerala:

If you’re an arts and culture enthusiast, the Kochi-Muziris Biennale (12 December 2018 – 29 March 2019) is the place to be. This international exhibition of contemporary art provides a platform for Indian as well as international artists to display their artwork through mediums such as film, installations, painting, sculpture and more. Some of the artists include Aernout Mik, Nilima Sheikh and Heri Dono. Additionally, the exhibition also hosts talks, seminars, screenings and workshops. More details here.